"Dog Lovers Start Luxury Hotel For Your Pooch."

K-9 Resorts was featured on CNBC Power Pitch in a segment titled, "Dog lovers start luxury hotel for your pooch." Watch full video segment and read article here or begin below.

"Dog Lovers Start Luxury Hotel For Your Pooch." 

By: Joanna Weinstein 

Brothers Steven and Jason Parker are on a mission to create the ultimate five-star hotel experience but their accommodations are very exclusive … only dogs can check in!

“We wanted to get into the luxury pet care business because there's two things in life we love and that is dogs and owning our own business,” K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel co-founder Steven Parker told CNBC.

We gave the Parker brothers just 60 seconds to pitch their award-winning pet care facility. Will their idea get five-star approval from our panelists? Watch the video and see if K-9 Resortshas what it takes to succeed in the dog-eat-dog start-up world.

More than just puppy love

The Parker brothers are not newcomers to the business world. At just 12 and 14 years old, instead of riding bikes after school, they were running a dog walking business.

“Jason and I always loved dogs growing up and our parents weren't really big dog people so we wanted to find a way to prove that we were responsible enough to care for dogs,” Steven Parker told CNBC.

Watch video and finish article here!

Franchisee Spotlight: Andy and Darcie Lubalin

Born and raised in Long Island, New York, Andy Lubalin went to Penn State University earning a degree in economics, with a minor in business administration in 1995. He met his wife Darcie at college and they relocated back to New Jersey. He worked at Hertz Equipment Rental for two years. Andy then worked for 15 years as a consultant at CSC Corporation as a Software Developer, and ended up as a Business Manager assigned to a major brokerage firm. His job duties required a lot of travel, to the point where he would be gone weeks at a time and missed the first moments of his kids’ lives. 

Having known K-9 Resorts’ founders Steven and Jason Parker when they were neighborhood dog sitters back in the day, Andy’s passion led him to K-9 and is the first franchisee in the network. As the #1 rated pet care service in all of New Jersey, Andy couldn’t be happier. Andy and Darcie live about a mile from the original K-9 store and became owners because of their high admiration of the franchise and its genuine line of work.

How did you learn about the brand?

Andy: It’s been three years in the making. I knew I wanted to work with dogs when I was going through my career transition and came back to K-9 when I made the decision to make a change.  I signed in the summer of 2011 and it took a full year to find the best location when we found it in the summer of 2012.

Jason Parker: Andy is our first franchisee, so this is very much our first rodeo working out the kinks to find the right location. We went through a bit of a challenge at first, but found a really good location advisor. Working with Larry Barto has been great. We have 13 locations including this one. This will be the first franchise location, with the original corporate location opening in 2005.

Why did you choose an opportunity with K-9 Resorts?

I’ve known the Parkers since they were in high school. We moved into the area, and they were our dog walkers, so I had the history with them. Their level of customer service was through the roof, especially for kids that age. They understood the value of relationships so I always had a positive opinion of them.

Five years went by and I knew they had since opened K-9 Resorts but had yet to take a tour. After doing the tour, I went in to meet with them and knew it was the right fit for me. It was immaculate. I didn't smell anything, didn't hear anything. Plus, I feel we saw eye-to-eye on life and the big picture, so the corporate culture was the icing on the cake.

Describe the location and demographics of the area.

The location is in a high income, densely populated area with a high pet index. The national average is a score of 100, but in this area, it’s nearly 300. In addition, the location on Bloomfield Avenue happens to be next to the only 24-hour animal emergency hospital in the area.

Are you involved with any charities or do any community outreach with your business?

We just served as the largest sponsor for the Dress for Success's Ad Journal, an organization that helps women in difficult situations get back on their feet.

Jason: We reserve a certain portion of money per year for philanthropy and support in the community; that is something the brand as a whole believes in.

What challenges have you overcome to get where you are now?

There’s a certain stigma that boarding rooms are loud, smelly and dirty. On some level, this is true, so part of our job is to educate people on great places such as K-9 that do have state-of-the-art materials and are really clean.

How many employees will you have when you start out?

We will have four up-front and four in the back.

What are your expansion or development plans? What is your end goal with K-9 Resorts?

It’s not beyond the realm of possibility that we will expand. We have a location, but I can’t think about that until at least after this summer because I have to show this is going to be a money maker.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or passions?

I have two kids so enjoy coaching my kids’ and being with my family. I enjoy playing sports myself.

Grand Opening in Fairfield, NJ

K9 Resorts recently celebrated our grand opening in Fairfield, NJ! We would like to congratulate new owners Andy and Darcie Lubalin, as well as thank the hundreds of new customers who came out to celebrate with us. Though there was rain, the sun was certainly shining upon the many smiling faces!

Here are some photos of the amazing day:

Franchise Owners Andy & Darcie Lubalin celebrate the Grand Opening of K9 Resorts of Fairfield, NJ

Hundreds of new customers come out to see the new K9 Resorts facility!

Bouncy House for family fun!

Face paintin

Front view of K9 Resorts of Fairfield! 

Co-Founder Jason Parker giving tours to eager guests

All front desk staff taking reservations and creating new client accounts

Cutting the ribbon!

Creating new client accounts

K9 Resorts Featured on FIOS1 News

K-9 Resorts was featured on FIOS1 News  in a segment titled, "K-9 Resorts Offer Luxury Lifestyle to Four-Legged Clients".

In the segment, Long Island K-9 Resorts owner Earl Blasi spoke about why he decided to open a K-9 Resorts and how he is looking at this business as a passion. Founder Jason Parker discussed why Long Island is a good market for the brand. 

Click HERE to view the segment on FIOS1's website or use the link below:


K-9 Resorts Offer Luxury Lifestyle to Four-Legged Clients

Getting Ready for Opening

Featured from L to R are new owners Darcie and Andy Lubalin, Mayor James Gasparini of Fairfield, and founders Jason Parker and Steven Parker

We've broken ground in Fairfield, NJ!

"After a long journey, Darcie and I are thrilled to be opening our location in Fairfield this May! We can't believe we are almost ready. Please spread the word to everyone in the area. We'll see you next month!" - Andy Lubalin

From L to R: Lisa Cody from K-9 Resorts of Middletown, Robin Bennett, Andy Lubalin from K-9 Resorts of Fairfield and Susan Lubalin From K-9 Resorts of Fairfield.

Nationally renowned doggie daycare expert, author and highly sought-after speaker, Robin Bennett, CPDT at K-9 Resorts of Fanwood trained franchisees as their franchise locations in Middletown and Fairfield, NJ prepare to open next month.

K-9 Resorts Featured on Pet Life Radio

K-9 Resorts was recently featured on Pet Life Radio’s Six Figure Dog Business in a segment titled, "America's Youngest Franchisers Share Their Secrets".

In the segment designed for current and prospective pet business owners, founders Jason and Steven Parker spoke about their story, what marketing and business development initiatives they have used to become successful, and the opportunity in the pet care industry.

Click HERE to listen to the full segment or begin reading the synopsis below:

America's Youngest Franchisers Share Their Secrets

You read that correctly.  America's youngest franchisers are in the pet industry....and they are blowing up.  Steven and Jason Parker of K-9 Resorts have been franchising their award winning pet hotels for only two years and territories are being gobbled up.  People looking to get into the pet care industry realize these brothers have figured out a system for bringing in the revenue, taking care of customers, and running a successful company.

In this episode these brothers are going to share three of their biggest marketing strategies that have helped propel them to such big success at such a young age.  What's best is that most of what they share is not being done in the pet industry.  If you want to learn from some industry leaders and put some distance in between you and your competitors then this is the show for you.

K-9 Resorts Featured on NBC12 News!

K-9 Resorts was recently featured on NBC12 News in an article titled, "K-9 Resorts Daycare and Luxury Hotel On Path for Groundbreaking 2013".

The article speaks about the busy year K-9 Resorts had with 8 new openings in 2012 and they're planned growth for the coming year. Founders Steven and Jason Parker report that there are 3 planned openings in New Jersey alone, with 6 total openings by year end. The article also speaks of the huge wave of interested franchisees K-9 Resorts has received due to recent appearances on CNN Money and Fox News.

Click HERE for the full article or begin reading below:

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel On Path for Groundbreaking 2013

After a whirlwind year in 2012, K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel (K-9 Resorts) signed eight franchises on the east coast. The one-of-a-kind daycare and overnight boarding facility for dogs expects to have two of its first franchise locations open by May 2013.

“We’ve already broken ground (on our franchise location) in Middletown, New Jersey and in Fairfield, New Jersey,” said Steven Parker, Co-founder of K-9 Resorts. Steven, along with co-founder and brother Jason, presented Mayor Gerard P. Scharfenberger of Middletown with a $500 donation during the groundbreaking ceremony for the shores’ first K-9 Resort. The donation will be used towards the Hurricane Sandy relief fund, for the aid in repairing the millions of dollars in damage the area sustained in October during Hurricane Sandy.

K9 Resorts featured on Fox Business News!

The segment was titled "Give Your Pets a Luxury Vacation" and aired live on January 28^th.  The Parker brothers, K-9 Resorts founders, were live in-studio. The six minute segment featured the history of K-9 Resorts, the services they offer and the plans for future development. Steven and Jason did a great job explaining their passion for the industry and the growth the franchise along the east coast. 

Check out the segment HERE.

The segment also gained a feature in an article within the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Patch. Begin reading the article below or click HERE for the full article.

Owners of K-9 Resorts In Fanwood Featured on Fox Business News

Residents of Scotch Plains, Jason and Steven Parker who own K-9 Resorts in Fanwood were featured on Fox Business News on Jan. 29.

By: Nicole Bitette 

Earlier today, Jason and Steven Parker of Scotch Plains were featured on Fox Business News to discuss their business, K-9 Resort Daycare and Luxury Hotel located in Fanwood.

The brothers, who Patch previously reported were in the process of franchising out locations, told Fox Business News that they are closing the ninth franchising deal this Friday and the 10^th deal next month.

K9 Resorts to hold Ground Breaking Ceremony for Middletown, NJ Location

Dan and Lisa Cody, owners of the K9 Resorts in Middletown, NJ, along with K9 Resort founders Jason and Steven Parker, are pleased to announce they will be holding a groundbreaking ceremony for the soon-to-open location on February 2, 2013, at 12:15pm. The ceremony will take place at 889 Route 35, Middletown, NJ.

Also attending will be the Mayor of Middletown. The Codys, along with the Parkers, will be presenting the Mayor with a $500 donation to the town, which will be put towards the Hurricane Sandy relief fund.

We are all very much looking forward to the groundbreaking event and the future success of New Jersey’s second K9 Resorts location!

K-9 Resorts featured on mycentraljersey.com

K9 Resorts was featured on mycentraljersey.com in an article titled "Brothers from Scotch Plains are dogs' best friends". The four-page article details the background and the success of young entrepreneurs, Steven and Jason Parker, and their growth of their K9 Resorts location in Fanwood and overall brand. Steven and Jason explain the K9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel business concept and how they plan to expand many new locations throughout New Jersey and take over the luxury pet care business. Click here to read the full article.

Brothers from Scotch Plains are dogs' best friends
By Paul C. Grzella

Brothers Jason (left) and Steve Parker, founders of the K9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel, are about to open six franchise sites in 2013. / Kathy Johnson/Staff Photographer

Growing up, Steve and Jason Parker always wanted to have a dog.

Their parents were resistant to the idea, so in 1999, the boys, then 14 and 12, respectively, decided to start a dog-walking business based from their Scotch Plains home.

“We wanted to show our parents that we had enough responsibility to have our own dog,” Steve Parker said.

Within a short time, the brothers were responsible for 25 regular accounts, so they went back to their parents and asked about that dog again.

“I never doubted that you weren’t responsible enough to have dogs,” replied their father, Alan Parker. “We just don’t like dogs.”

“We realized then we weren’t getting a dog, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t keep our business,” Steve Parker said.

After 13 years of walking and planning, the brothers’ passions for man’s best friend and hard work are culminating early next year with the opening of a series of pet luxury resort franchises based on the K9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel the brothers have operated in Fanwood since 2005.

“We are very fortunate,” Jason Parker said. “This has been a great combination of our love and passion for dogs that we have been able to couple with our entrepreneurial spirit.”

Getting started

Click here to continue reading.

K-9 Resorts featured on TheStreet.com

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel was recently featured on TheStreet.com in an article titled "An NFL Panther Runs the Pet Care Field." In a story on the rise in doggy daycares and pet care facilities, K-9 Resorts was included because they are a company in this industry growing and finding success. The piece also gives a brief overview of the business and inception story, and includes a quote from Steven Parker about how they expect to be the best and number one in quality within the industry. Click here to read the full article or read K-9 Resorts' section below.

And NFL Panther Runs the Pet Care Field

By Laurie Kulikowski

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel is also looking to expand its doggy day care business. The company was founded in 2005 by two brothers, Steven and Jason Parker, who had experience in the dog-walking and pet-sitting business in New Jersey but decided to combine those operations and expand in the quickly growing business of luxury dog day care. Last year they started to franchise their operations.

(Read more)

K-9 Resorts featured in Huffington Post

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel was featured in an article on Huffington Post (formerly AOL Small Business) titled, “Dog Businesses Find Success Even During Tough Times: Made in the USA.” The article features Steven and Jason Parker, who not only inspired the entire article but shared their entrepreneur story and the successes they have found in the dog care industry. Click here to read the article, or begin reading below.


Dog Businesses Find Success Even During Tough Times: Made In The USA

by Geoff Williams

Like many kids, when Jason and Steven Parker were teenagers, they wanted a dog. And like many parents, theirs said no. So they came up with the next best thing to spend some time with man's best friend -- they started their own pet-sitting business.

The brothers, now 24 and 27, kept it going through college and eventually sold it for six figures. After they graduated, they went on to start K9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel.

(Continue reading...)

K-9 Resorts featured on TheStreet.com

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel was featured on TheStreet.com in an article titled, “When Customers Become Franchisees,” that ran online on Monday, October 31, 2011. This article was based on an interview with franchisee Andy Lubalin and co-founder, chairman, and CEO Steven Parker. Steven spoke about the development of the concept and how the franchise intends to grow throughout the Northeast. In addition, Andy Lubalin offered great praise about how the customer service and cleanliness of the K-9 operation, along with the solid business model, were the main reasons that he and his wife decided to invest into this concept. Click here to read the article, or begin reading below.

When Customers Become Franchisees
By Laurie Kulikowski

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel was founded by two brothers in the dog-walking and pet-sitting business in New Jersey who decided to combine the operations -- then to expand a quickly successful business through the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area.

"We always knew wanted several stores," co-owner Steven Parker says.

They decided franchising was the best way to do that and officially became a franchised operation this year.

(Continue reading...)